Glauber Equipment Corporation

In 2007, Glauber Equipment Corporation approached TCIE for an assessment of its quality system against requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Results confirmed that the industrial distributor of pumps and air compressors needed an efficiency makeover if it was to exist in the marketplace. With TCIE’s assistance, development of a formalized business management system and implementation of Lean initiatives helped Glauber not only persevere through the economic recession that began in 2008, but emerge as a stronger, more profitable competitor.

The Approach

Guided employees in creating a quality policy that complies with ISO standard requirements and related documents, and trained them in implementing and internally auditing the new system

Provided instruction to both managers and general workforce employees in the effective use of metrics to evaluate performance

Provided a Lean overview program to the entire workforce

Instructed employees from across the company in Value Stream Mapping, 5S and Kaizen to quickly improve processes

The Impact

Reduced overall costs substantially; for example, profitability rose in one year despite sales dropping by 20%

Developed and implemented an ISO 9001-compliant business management system

Improved productivity of the Service Department by leveraging and making better use of the ERP system through training and analyzing processes

Improved functionality of the Packaged Systems Department through: 1) better sourcing; 2) improved management of shop supplies; 3) rearrangement of inventory; and 4) reduced rework as a result of more thorough designs and better communication

Project ROI

How do we measure the impact of projects? It’s a mix of tangible, quantifiable savings with the more elusive “soft savings” – such as cost avoidance and improved customer satisfaction.